The name “Antichrist” was given by Saint John to the movement that opposed Christ: “The man who denies that Jesus is the Christ… he is the Antichrist” (1 John 2,22).

This adversary of Christ already existed in the past, Paul and John say, but he must also return with power, before the Return of Christ, but to then disappear forever. It has already appeared, and still found in the world. It will disappear, never to return. It is why, we cannot speak of the Antichrist of “tomorrow”.

The Antichrist of yesterday

“You were told that the Antichrist must come (in the future), and now several antichrists have already appeared… Those rivals of Christ came out of our own number, but they had never really belonged; if they had belonged, they would have stayed with us…” (1 John 2,18-19)

We understand from John that these antichrists present in his time, were the Jews who, after having believed in Jesus and were joined into the Judaic-Christian community, defected and renounced Jesus as Messiah because He did not correspond to the political aspirations of the Jews (See the text “The Tragedy of Jesus”).

John further confirms his thought in his second letter:

“There are many deceivers about in the world, refusing to admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist.” (2 John 7)

These verses clearly prove that the Antichrist is a human group, opposed to Jesus. This group is “the deceiver, the Antichrist” (in singular), which was already “about in the world”.

Saint Paul on the other hand, named this anti-Christ movement differently. He specifies that this “Enemy” of Christ must appear on the eve of the return of Christ; but that its activity was already at work during his time:

“It cannot happen (before the Return of Jesus) until the Rebel, the Lost One, has appeared. This is the Enemy (Antichrist)… Rebellion is at its work already…” (2 Thessalonians 2,3-7)

To note: “Before” the Return of Christ, the Antichrist (the Enemy) has to appear before Jesus returns, but the “rebellion” was already at work in the past. These are “the Deceivers”, the “antichrists” denounced by John in his second letter.

The Antichrist today

John explains who this Antichrist will be; who will reappear in the future: “… you were told that the Antichrist must come… The one who denies that Jesus is Christ, he is the liar, he is Antichrist” (1 John 2,18-22). He has already appeared in Palestine, striving to establish the Zionist “messianic” empire, contrary to the spiritual and universal Kingdom of Christ.

The Antichrist that was to come is now here. He is recognizable by his rejection of Jesus and its presence in Palestine. He shall disappear for eternity! The Christ has unmasked him: he is the “Beast” of Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation. (See the text “The Key of the Apocalypse”).
His return sounds the Apocalyptical trumpet of the grand universal trial and the glorious Return of Christ: Jesus of Nazareth.